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CURRENT SERIES - After God's Own Heart |
July 25 -My Call? Or God's?
1 Samuel 26:1-25
Okay. so it may have been impressive that David passed up an opportunity to take Saul's life... once. But what happens when another opportunity presents itself. Could it be that he missed God's signals the first time around? Or could it be that this is a test of character to find out whether or not he really believed what he said about it being God's call on when he becomes king? This morning we'll take a closer look at yet another defining moment in the life of David when he must answer the questions: "My Call? Or God's?"
July 18 - Click to download mp3Whew! That Was Close!
1 Samuel 25:1-44
Ever had a moment when you lost your temper with someone because of what they had done to you? Maybe did some things in retaliation? Wished you could have it back? David came dangerously close to just such a moment in the story we'll be looking at this morning. When a wealthy man refused to show kindness and generosity to David and his men, it took wise intervention on the part of a lady named Abigail to prevent David from taking actions he clearly would have regretted. This morning, we'll learn from both her and David as we consider the fact that "Whew! That Was Close!"
July 4 - Click to download mp3God-Given Opportunity or Unholy Ambition?
1 Samuel 24:1-22
Ever since the crowds shouted their praises, David has been on the run, a refugee forced to flee his own people. He has been constantly pursued by Saul, who aims to eliminate what he understands to be a serious threat to his dynasty. And suddenly an opportunity seems to arise for David to quickly and easily kill Saul. Is this a God-given opportunity, as his men see it? Or would it be wrong for David to seize the moment? What will guide how David lives. and ultimately leads? Today our series on the life of David continues as we seek to understand how David tackled this important question.
June 27 - Click to download mp3"If I Just Touch!" Praying
Mark 5:24-34
"If I Just Touch!" praying is a form of prayer born of frustration, persistence and faith. When life's unanswered needs go on for years, the example of a lady who encountered Jesus may be just what you are looking for. To lead us through a deeper understanding of this topic, today we welcome Dr. Bill Hossler as our guest preacher while Pastor Keith is away. Dr. Hossler serves as President of the Missionary Church denomination. We're honored that he and his wife Margaret are members here at Avalon, and we're grateful to have him here to share the Word this morning!
June 20 - Click to download mp3Taking on a Giant
1 Samuel 17:1-58
There may be no better known story in all of Scripture than that of David facing down the giant named Goliath. It's a story filled with drama, suspense and the thrill of victory for the underdog. More intriguing - and more important - is what lies behind the confidence that the unlikely victor shows in this battle. It's a lesson that's relevant for each of us. It's a lesson that can give us assurance and strike down fear for any of those moments when we are "Taking on a Giant."
June 13 - Click to download mp3An Unlikely Choice for Oily Hair
1 Samuel 16:1-13
The old adage says that "you can't judge a book by its cover." Never was that more true than it was for a man named David, a man who would go on to become Israel's greatest earthly king and someone the Scriptures describe as a "man after God's own heart." God saw something in David that the prophet Samuel couldn't. This morning we begin a character study of David by looking at what God looked for: character. We'll find that only for humans was David "An Unlikely Choice for Oily Hair."
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June 6 - Click to download mp3You Said What?
During the early months of this year Pastor Keith sat down with small groups of folks from Avalon for what we called Conversations. As a follow-up to our previous vision workshop, it was a chance to share about how we've experienced God working through the ministry of our church and to dream together about the opportunities for ministry in such a time as this. Today Pastor Keith will share a summary of what he heard from the people of Avalon at these gatherings with a report he's calling: "You Said What?"
May 30 - Click to download mp3Snapshots from Around the World
Acts 14:26-28
Over the past few months Avalonians have been in a number of different countries on short term mission trips. This morning, we have the opportunity to hear about their experiences in places like Bulgaria, Haiti, Honduras and Nicaragua. When Paul and Barnabas and their companions returned from their travels, folks at the church in Antioch eagerly gathered to hear their accounts of what God had done. Today, we have a chance to do the same as we look at "Snapshots from Around the World."
May 23 - Click to download mp3Shaped to Serve
1 Peter 4:10-11
Over the past couple of weeks, we've seen clearly how purposefully God has shaped each of us with personality characteristics, talents, abilities, passions, interests and spiritual gifts. The questions that remain for each of us are: "What is that purpose?" and "How am I employing my gifts to serve that purpose?" The challenge of God's Word is to unleash our gifts in service to others and God. This morning we wrap up our SERVE! series by looking more closely at the fact that each of us is "Shaped to Serve."
May 16 - Click to download mp3Unwrapping Your Spiritual Gift
1 Corinthians 12:1-11; 27-31
Believe it or not, Christmas and birthdays aren't the only time you receive gifts. The Word tells us that when God's Spirit comes to live within you, He gives you at least one if not more special abilities that aid you in serving His purposes for your life. Do you know what yours is? Are you actively and intentionally using it in service? This morning we take a closer look at how God equips His people for service as we consider the important task of "Unwrapping Your Spiritual Gift."
May 9 - Click to download mp3Deliberately Designed
Psalm 139:13-16
You're no accident! In some ways it may seem like a very simple thing to say, but it has very significant implications. God has crafted you in a particular way - personality, passions, abilities, talents, etc. - for His purpose for your life. Today we begin a brief new series called Serve! - looking more closely at how God has equipped us for His service. We begin that journey by looking at what the Word has to say about the fact that we are "Deliberately Designed."
May 2 - Click to download mp3Praise Rocks
Luke 19.40
Have you heard the rocks speaking today? Sound crazy? Maybe not so much. In describing the praises of the crowds as He rode into Jerusalem, Jesus said that if the people didn't, the rocks themselves would cry out in praise. Not as farfetched as you thought. This morning our Kidtricity group leads us in a musical exploration of the importance of praise through the various images of rocks in the Word. You'll leave with a renewed commitment to praise and with a clear sense that "Praise Rocks!"
April 25 - Click to download mp3For the Joy Set Before....
1 Thessalonians 5:16; Philippians 4:4; Hebrews 12:2
Would people use the word "joyful" to describe you? Is that important? Seems to be. according to the Word. But what exactly does that mean? What if things aren't going well? What if I don't like what's happening in my life right now? Should I be joyful? Why? Can I? How? Those are the kinds of questions that we'll tackle this morning as we seek to get a better understanding of what the Bible has to say about this often-elusive characteristic of the Christian life. We'll look at the example of Jesus, about whom it is said that He faced the cross "For the Joy Set Before."
April 18 - Click to download mp3Coming Home
Luke 15:11-32
Where are you at in your life? Feel like you've strayed from what God really wants for you? Feel like you're at the bottom, and need to find some hope that things can change? Exactly what is it that can help that to happen in our lives? Jesus provided some insight about that in one of the stories He told His followers one day. It's a familiar story, but one that brings great hope! We'll take a closer look at that story this morning as we consider what it means to be "Coming Home."
April 4 - Click to download mp3Letting Go of the Grave
Galatians 2:20
Today is a day of grand celebration! It's a day to commemorate the ultimate victory. a victory over even the power of death itself. But that victory is not simply the story of Jesus' life; it also becomes the story of our own lives. As a result of His resurrection, Christ can free us from the hold that our pride, our greed, our pain and bitterness, our fears, our dreams and even the threat of death itself can have on our lives. In doing so, He brings new life. That's what we'll unpack today as we consider what it meant for Jesus to be "Letting Go of the Grave" on that very first Resurrection Sunday!
March 28 - Click to download mp3Letting Go of My Dreams
1 Chronicles 17:1-4; 22:6-10
Dreams are powerful things. They can give us hope for the future. They can enable us to have a tremendous impact on our world. But are we willing to surrender them to God's purposes? Are we willing to let go of our claims upon our own dreams? Or even God-inspired dreams? Interesting questions. but questions that cut to the heart of our willingness to fully yield our lives to what God wants for us. Our Lenten series called Surrender continues today as we consider what it means to be "Letting Go of My Dreams."
March 21 - Click to download mp3Letting Go of My Fears
1 Samuel 17
For some folks there's a certain attraction for the kind of fear they feel in the midst of a suspenseful movie. Fear may be fun in that kind of a setting, but much of the time it isn't. The reality is that fear can take hold of our real lives and prevent us from experiencing the abundance God has for us or from doing those things God has called us to do. How does God's Word speak to that reality? How can I be freed from the hold that fear has on my life? Our Lenten series called Surrender continues today as we consider what it means to be "Letting Go of My Fear."
March 14 - Click to download mp3Letting Go of My Pain
Genesis 41:50-52; 45:1-7
Many of us carry around the scars of past hurts. And in many cases, the pain is quite severe. What we do with that pain will determine the degree to which it affects our future. If anyone could testify to the pain of betrayal at the hands of others, it was the man Joseph about whom we read in the opening book of our Bibles. While his story involves a great deal of hurt, it also teaches us so much about how to let go of that pain and forgive those who have wronged us. Our Lenten series called Surrender continues today as we consider what it means to be "Letting Go of My Pain."
March 7 - Click to download mp3Letting Go of My Stuff
1 Timothy 6:6-12
There are some things that we have to let go of because they won't let go of us. Our "stuff" is like that. It can be a great tool to use for God's purposes or it can be something that runs our lives. When my devotion to my "stuff" overtakes my devotion to Christ, I'm walking in dangerous territory. The Word has quite a bit to say about that. Today, we'll take a closer look at that. Our Lenten series called Surrender continues as we consider why I need to be "Letting Go of My Stuff."
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